US2503467A - Can handling magnet - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1950 K. A. BLIND CAN HANDLING MAGNET Filed Jan. 16, 1948 J. m ilm M a w M 7 r A 7 Q 8 6 1 1 6 1| #7 m w 4 I 4 J "H M Patented Apr. 11, 1950 CAN HANDLING MAGNET Karl A. Blind, Thiensvill Magnetic Separator e, Wis., assignor to Dings (10., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 16, 1948, Serial No. 2,681

6 Claims.

My invention relates generally to improvements in devices for facilitating transportation of food laden containers such as metal cans from place to place in canning factories and warehouses, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of permanently magnetized can handling magnets or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved magnet assemblage for attracting and firmly holding one or more relatively frail bodies such as metal cans or metal covered jars, and for releasing the articles from the magnet or magnets.

It is frequently desirable in many industries and. especially in canning factories, to transfer a group of bodies or articles such as commodity laden metal cans and jars having metallic closure caps, from one locality to another, both gently and without undue impact or shock. Such handling and transference of the cans and jars may be readily eilected with the aid of one or more electro-magnets or permanent magnets; but due to the relatively frail nature of the commodity containers, the magnets must function so as to avoid excessive impact and to positively hold the receptacles while suspended from the transporting magnets. Then too, it must be possible to quickly grasp and to release the articles from the holding magnets, without danger of denting the thin metallic enclosures thereof; and while the prior electro-magnetic devices are adapted to meet all of these requirements, they are relatively bulky and cumbersome due to the use of energizing solenoids, coils and wires, and the previous permanent magnets have not been sufficiently reliable and easy to manipulate.

It is therefore a more specific object of my present invention to provide an improved permanently magnetized can handling unit, which is simple and compact in construction, and which is also readily manipulable and highly eificient in use.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved permanent magnet for attracting and firmly holding relatively frail metallic bodies in suspension, together with improved instrumentalities for quickly and effectively releasing the articles from the magnet.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved permanently energized magnet assemblage wherein one or more magnets are adapted to hold one or more commodity laden cans or jars of diverse sizes while being transferred from place to place.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide a plural magnet assembly wherein the several magnets are automatically and independently adjustable so as to accommodate irregular surfaces of the articles engaged by the several magnets.

An additional specific object of the present invention is to provide a .plural magnet can lifting device wherein all of the magnets may be quickly and gently applied to and released from one or more of the containers.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide a compact and durable can handling magnet assemblage which may be readily assembled, manipulated, and dismantled, and which may be manufactured at moderate cost for diverse uses.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the various features constituting my present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing can handling magnet assemblages embody these features, maybe had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein the reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a typical plural magnet can handling assemblage having portions broken away to reveal normally concealed structure;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same can handling magnet assembly, taken along the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through one of the individual magnet units showing the same in action with a can suspended therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a likewise enlarged transverse vertical section through the magnet unit showing the magnet in released position; and

Ftig. 5 is a bottom view of the enlarged magnet uni While the invention as shown is especially advantageous for use in handling commodity laden cans or metal capped jars, either singly or in multiple, 'it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the improved features by virtue of this restricted showing.

Referring to the drawing, the multiple magnet can handling assemblage specifically illustrated, comprises in general a portable casing having upper and lower plates 1, 8 respectively, firmly attached to an annular wall 9 by means of bolts or screws Ill; a magnet suspension disk H vertically movable within the casing wall 9 along the screws Ill and having a plurality of tubular guides l2 depending therefrom and slidable within openings l4 formed in the lower casing plate 8; a cylindrical bifurcated magnet I5 slidably confined within each of the guides I2, and each having a pair of laterally spaced lower poles separated by a recess I6 coacting with a transverse pin I1 secured to the adjacent guide I2, and being urged outwardly by a helical spring I8; a circular housing I9 attached to the top plate 1 by cap screws and having a large central bore 2i and a bearing 22 disposed coaxially of the bore; a guiding sleeve 2d coacting with the housing bore 2i and being secured to the magnet suspension plate II by means of a clamping plate 25 and cap screws 26; and a manipulating handle member 2'? having a rigid stud Z8 journalled for rotation in the housing bearing 22 and provided with cam threads 29 coacting with threads formed in the clamping plate 25.

The cylindrical bifurcated magnets !5 are preferably formed of material such as Alnico metal having high magnetic energy characteristics, this metal containing aluminum, nickel, cobalt, copper and iron, and being susceptible of intense permanent magnetization. The gap width or pole spacing should be designed for maximum surface strength with relatively small range. The mechanical combination of the magnet and spring in each sub-assembly facilitates a mechanical contact between each magnet and the article to be lifted. Surface strength combined with suificient range to magnetically attract the articles through an air gap, requires considerable energy and permanent magnet material. The springs i3 obviate the factor of range, and considerable economy in material and weight results from their use. The tubular magnet guides I2 as well as the plates '8, I! and the annular wall 9 should preferably be formed of nonmagnetic material in order to concentrate the fields of magnetic influence at the magnets. The helical compression springs it which coact with the upper surfaces of the magnets I5, constantly urge the latter toward their stop pins I1; and these pins are secured to the adjacent guides I2 as shown in Fig. 5, while the tubular guides may be rigidly attached as by fusion of metal, to the suspension plate II.

The casing plates 1, tachably secured to the ring wall Q by means of the screws it which also guide the suspension plate I I near its periphery; and each of the screws It is embraced by a stop collar 38 beneath the plate i I and by a helical compression spring 31 above the plate It. The collars it serve to limit the downward movement of the plate I i and magnet guides 52, while the springs 3! constantly urge the plate ll downwardly; and the guiding sleeve 24 which is firmly but detachably secured to the movable plate i l by means of the clamping plate 25 and cap screws 2%, is freely slidable within the housing bore 2!, whenever the handle member '21 is manipulated to positively move the magnets I'5. The handle member 2'! may be of any desired formation, preferably loop shaped in order to readily cooperate with a crane hook or the like, and the spindle stud 28 may be welded to the handle and is provided with an annular groove 32 within the bearing 22 and with which a set-screw 3G is cooper-able so as'to preventaxial displacement of the spindle relative to the housing I9, see Fig. 2.

The cam threads 29 formed on the spindle'stud 28 and which coact with similar threads formed a may be firmly but .de-- I in the clamping plate 25, are preferably of the quick pitch type, and may be replaced by any other cam formation capable of quickly moving the magnet suspension plate II up or down whenever the spindle is rotated in the bearing 22 and the plate 25 may also be provided with a stop washer 35 as shown, adapted to coact with the top of the housing I9. The assemblage is obviously so constructed, that when the plate H is lowered as in Fig. 2 the bottom of the plate I I will engage the stop collars 35 and the lower extremities of the tubular guides I2 will be flush with the lower face of the casing plate 8; whereas elevation of the plate I! until the stop washer 35 engages the housing 59, will withdraw the guides I2 and magnets I5 upwardly into the adjacent openings Id as illustrated in Fig. 4. Such lowering and raising of the magnet suspension plate H may be quickly and conveniently effected by merely twisting the handle member 2'? in the proper direction relative to the main casing and housin It.

When the improved can handling magnet assemblage has been properly constructed as above described, it may be manipulated as follows to transfer one or more food laden cans 36 or the like, from place to piace. 7/hile the cans-3E are resting upon a support, the mag-net assembly with the individual permanent magnets 55 protruding beyond the lower plate 8 as in Figs. 2 and 3, may be lowered to cause the magnet poles to engage the can tops, whereupon the magnets will attract and become firmly attached to the cans. The backing springs in will permit the individual magnets it to automatically adjust themselves to unevenness in the can surfaces so as to insure most effective contact at the pole faces, and when the assemblage is subsequently lifted away from the initial can support, the cans 36 will be lifted and held in suspension by the magnets i5 coacting therewith. After the suspended cans it have been transferred to the desired locality, they may be brought in contact with a new support, and they may then be released from the magnets I5 by merely twisting the handle member 27 so as to positively elevate the plate l I, guides i2 and magnets I5 as depicted in Fig. 4, thus freeing the cans.

It will be apparent that the cans 35 may thus be quickly and conveniently attached to and released from the magnets i5, and obviously one or more of these magnets may be caused to cooperate with one or more of the cans 3%. When very large cans 36 are being handled, all of the magnets I5 may cooperate with the individual cans, but in every instance the springs l8 permit the magnets to properly engage the can surfaces. The springs 3! which coact with the upper "surface of the magnet suspension plate II aid in urging'this plate downwardly when the magnets are lowered, and also eliminate undesirable lost motion, and the tubular guides I2 and sleeve 24 cooperate with the parallel screws It to effectively guide the plate It during its movement. The pins I! also coact with the recesses It to permit slight rocking motion of 'themagnets I5; and the specific formation of the gaps formed by these recesses I6 combined with the springs 1 3, is an extremely important feature of the present improvement.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a can handling magnet assemblage which is in fact simple,'compact and durable inconstruction, and which is also readily manipulable and eflective in use. The improved device comprises relatively few simple parts which may be easily manufactured and assembled, and which may also be readily dismantled for inspection. Many of these parts such as the magnets l are interchangeably similar thus reducing the cost of construction to a minimum, and by utilizing Alnico metal in the magnets a powerful permanently magnetized assemblage results. The improved assemblages may also be produced in diverse sizes for various uses, and the cam release makes it possible to quickly and eifectively simultaneously remove all of the cans 35 from the magnets I5 while the resilient backing of these magnets permits the'into be gently applied to the can surfaces without damaging the articles. The improvement has proven highly satisfactory and successful mac tual use, and obviously obviates many complica-I tions inherent in electro-magnetic devices ofithis kind.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation of the can handling magnet, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art; and it is also intended that specific descriptive terms used herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

I claim:

1. In a can handling magnet assemblage, a portable casing having a series of lower openings, a suspension plate reciprocable within said casing and having a series of tubular non-magnetic guides slidable within said openings, a permanent magnet slidably confined within each of said guides, and means for resiliently urging each of said magnets outwardly beyond the adjacent guide.

2. In a can handling magnet assemblage, a portable casing having a series of lower openings, a suspension plate reciprocable within said casing and having a series of tubular non-magnetic guides slidable within said openings, a permanent magnet slidably confined within each of .said guides, means for resiliently urging each of said magnets outwardly beyond the adjacent guide, and means for lifting said plate relative to said casing to simultaneously retract all of said guides and magnets into said casing.

3. In a can handling magnet assemblage a portable casing having a series of lower openings, a suspension plate reciprocable withinsaidcasing and having a series of tubular non-magnetic guides slidable within said openings, a permanent magnet slidably confined within each of said :guides, a spring for constantly urging each of said magnets outwardly beyond its guide, and cam means for lifting said plate relative to said casing to simultaneously elevate all of said guides and magnets beyond the lower confines of said casing.

4. In a can handling magnet assemblage, a portable casing having a series of lower circular openings, a suspension plate guided for reciprocation within said casing and having a series of hollow cylindrical non-magnetic guides slidable within said circular openings, a cylindrical permanent magnet slidably confined within each of said guides, and means for resiliently urging each of said magnets outwardly beyond the adjacent guide.

5. In a can handling magnet assemblage, a portable casing having a series of lower circular openings, a suspension plate guided for reciprocation within said casing and having a series of hollow cylindrical non-magnetic guides slidable within said openings, a cylindrical permanent magnet slidably confined within each of said guides, means for resiliently urging each of said magnets outwardly beyond the adjacent guide, and rotary cam means for lifting said plate rela-- tive to said casing to simultaneously retract all of said guides and magnets into said casing.

6. In a can handling magnet assemblage, a portable casing having a series of lower openings, a suspension plate reciprocable within said casing and having a central opening provided with quick-pitch threads and also having a. series of tubular non-magnetic guides slidable within said casing openings, a permanent magnet slidably confined within each of said guides, a spring for constantly urging each of said magnets outwardly beyond its guide, and a spindle stud journalled in said casing and having quick pitch threads cooperable with said plate threads to lift said plate relative to said casing and to thereby simultaneously elevate all of said guides and magnets beyond the lower confines of said casing.

KARL A. BLIND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,987,336 Powell Jan. 8, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,952 Great Britain May 13, 1897

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